Machine for sewing on buttons



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. MATHISON.

MACHINE FOR-SEWING 0N BUTTONS.

No. 336,881. I Patented Feb. 23, 1886.,

WITNESSES: INN/ENTERS CJ\\\\E- CKoo2\ wug\ v 1 W 4 WWA ZMN {A No Model.)

J. MATHISON.

MACHINE FOR SEWING 0N BUTTONS. No. 336,881. Patented-Feb. 23, 1886.

WITNE SYSES:

gysksxmamu x WM W INVENTCIF\ 5 Sheets- Sheet 2.

(No'ModeL) 5 SheetsSheet 3.

- 'J. MATHISON.

MACHINE FOR SEWING 0N BUTTONS.

No. 336.881. Patented Feb. 23, 1886.

INVENTUR:

5 Sheets-Sheet 4;

(No Model.)

J. MATHISON.

MACHINE FOR SEWING ON BUTTONS.

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a E W svm L s w E5 6 N O Tm I 'M, m WCW (No Model.) 5 Sheets- Sheej; 5.

J. MATHISON. V

MACHINE FOR snwme 0N BUTTONS.

No. 336,881. w Patented Feb. 23, 1886;

WITNESSES: INVENTEIRI cmesmuam 7- fi W in: immune PETERS 00., worwumo WASNINGTON, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH MATHISON, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSLGNOR TO THE STAND- ARD BUTTON FASTENING COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

MACHINE FOR SEWING ON BUTTONS,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,881, dated February 23, 1886. Application filed September 24, 1885. Serial No. 178,085. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MATHISQN, of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Mas sachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Sewing on Buttons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to button-fastening machines having a reservoir to hold asupply of buttons and provided with a raceway to guide the buttons to the point where they are taken by the needle, the reservoir and raceway being movable and provided with mechanism whereby the lower end of the raceway is moved alternately'from and toward the needle, the movement of the raceway from the needle being effected while aloop of thread is held in the eye of thelower button in the raceway by the raised needle, so that said button is withdrawn from the raceway by the retreating movement of the raceway. The movement toward the needle effected while the needle is raised brings the eye of the lowest button in the racewaynnder the needle, so that the latter. in descending passes through said eye preparatory to drawing up a loop of thread through it.

An example of this.class of machines is shown in Letters Patent N 0. 268,369, granted to me November 28, 1882, the machine therein shown having a long raceway supported with the buttonreservoir by a post at the rear portion of the machine, and pivoted to said post so as to be capable of oscillating thereon laterally, the post being reciprocated so as to impart positive longitudinal reciprocating movement to the raceway, said movement, in connection with certain auxiliary devices, causing the raceway to oscillate laterally, a compound movement being thus efi'ected whereby the lower end'of the raceway is caused to alternately approach and recede from the needle.

The present. invention has for its objectv to provide a reservoir and raceway of less bulky construction capable of. operating with less resistance and friction than that shown in my former patent, and having a shorter andmore abruptly inclined raceway, so that the buttons 50 will be less liable to become clogged while passing down to the delivering end. To these ends my invention consists in a I the needle and presser-foot, so as to be capacombined reservoir and raceway pivoted to the outer end of the neck or arm which supports ble of oscillating in a vertical plane, and the mechanism whereby said reservoir and race way'are oscillated on their pivot by the driving-shat't of the machine, the oscillating movement causing the-lower end ofthe raceway to move alternately toward and from the needle.

' The invention also consists in certain de tails, all of which I will now proceed to describe.

Of the accompanyings drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a rear side elevation of a machine provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged end elevation. Fig. 2 represents a section on line 2 z, Fig. 2. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of a part of the machine, a part of the reservoir and raceway-being removed. Fig. 4 represents a section on line a: at, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of a part of the reservoir; and Fig. 6 represents a side elevation of the lower portion of the raceway. Fig. 7 represents a section on line 3 3 Fig. 6. Fig. 8 represents a side elevation of a portion of the machine, showing the devices for oscillating the raceway. Fig. 9 represents a section on line 2 2, Fig. 8.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, A representsthe supporting-frame, having the narrow elongated worksupporting arm B, which contains the threadcarrier and tension devices.

E represents the neck or arm supporting the needle-bar F and presser-bar j, and also sup-' porting the cast-oft bar.

The operation of said bars as well as that of all the parts of the machine, excepting the button raceway and reservoir, are fully described in my former patent,and in a pending 95 application,Serial No. 178,084, filed by me herewith, to which reference is made for a fuller description.

a represents the button-reservoir, and]; the raceway rigidly attached thereto. The reservoir is composed of a body, 2, and a 'back plate, 3, separated by aslot or space, 4, around the margin of the reservoir. The raceway has an arm, b, which is pivoted at c, Fig. 2, to

ears (1 d on a stud, e, which isjournaled in an arm, f,-rigidl attached to the neck or arm E of the machine, the pivot c and stud 6 being at right angles with each other, so that the raceway is capable of oscillating toward and from and parallel with the arm E, the de scribed connection of the raceway to the arm constituting a double joint. The raceway extends downwardly from the reservoir, and is com posed of two parallel side pieces, 2' 3, separatedby a slot, 4', adapted to receive the heads ot'the buttons. The side piece, 2, is provided with a slot or groove, 5, adapted to receive the eyes of the buttons, said groove being cut through the piece 2 at the lower end of the raceway to permit the eyes of the buttons to project from the raceway, and curved so as to cause the eye of each button to stand horizontally when it reaches-the lower end of the raceway, the eye being thus adapted .to re;

ceive the descending needle, as hereinafter described.

To the side 2 of the raceway is-pivoted at 6 a gate, 7, which is forced by aspri'ng, 8,against a rigid part of the raceway, and thus caused to stand across and partially obstruct the lower end of the slot 4 and thus: prevent the .buttons from passing out from theslot unless drawn, out'by a force sutficient to displace the gate, as hereinat'ter described. The gate 7 is a solid or inelastic block of metal, which swings in a plane at right angles to the line in which the buttons move in passing out from the raceway. Consequently it is not liable to be displaced by the ordinary pressure of the but tons against it.caused by the jar or vibrations of the machine, a greater force being required to displace it than could originate within the reservoir or raceway, or be caused by the jar of the machine. The gate has a. cavity or socket, 7, Fig.' 7, in that end that constitutes the button-stop. Said cavity is formed to fit accurately against the sides of the button- 7 heads, and insures the stoppage of the lower button at the precise point required to cause the eye the: eot'to receive the descending needle. It is obviously a matter of much importance'that the lower button be accurately located with reference to the needle. The gate has a screw, '1, which projects through its inner side and constitutes an adjhstable stop bearing against the piece 2'of the raceway, and limiting the eirtent to which the gate is moved by its spring 'toward the part 2, and thus determining the initial position of the cavity 7 and enabling it to be adjusted to the 7 thickness of the heads of the buttons. There is sometimes a slight difference between the sizes of the heads of different lots of buttons, and as the gate 7-should stand so that'the wall of the cavity 7 in its normal position will receive the head of the lower button and hold it well forward, so that the eye will project prop- .erly from the slot 5, the importance of the .means of adjusting the initial position of the gate 7 will be obvious.

The back plates, 3 and 3, of the button reservoir and raceway are formed 'in a single piece, which is secured to the bodies 2 and 2, (which are also in a single piece) by screws 8 S passing through the plates 3 3 into tapped orifices inthe parts 2 and 2'. Screws S S, working in tapped orifices in the parts 3 3 and hearing at th ir innerends against the parts 2 2 without entering said parts, co-operate with the screws S S in holding the parts 3 3' at any desired distance from the parts 2 2', so that the width of theslots 4 4' inay be varied o. correspond to variations in the sizes of different lots of heads.

The raceway and reservoir are oscillated on the. stud e by means of a lever, 9, pivoted at 10 to the frame of the machine, acam-groove, 11, in a disk on the drivingshaft R, receiving a roller on said 'lever, and a connecting-rod, g, connecting the lever 9 with an car, 15, at-

Icam causes the lever 9 to oscillate, and communicates a like oscillating movement to the raceway through the rod 9. The movements thus imparted to'the raceway would be partwoarmed lever, L, Figs. 8 and 9, pivoted to the under side of the neck or arm E, of the machine and adapted to oscillate horizontally. The arm 12 of said lever is struck. by a' pin, 14, on the connecting'rod y when said rod and the raceway are moving in the direction indrthus turned on its pivot, so that its other arm, 13, presses outwardly on the ear 15, to which the connecting-rod gis pivoted, and thus causes the raceway to swing outwardly from the presser-foot while it is moving backwardly. A spring, 16, connecting an arm on the raceway with the neck or arm E, normally draws the raceway inwardly toward said arm, so that when the raceway is swung forward the spring draws it inwardly to its proper position beside the needle. The connecting-rod g is pivoted at 17, and 18, so that it conforms to the movements of the raceway caused by the two-armed lever L and spring 16. The ear 15,t.o which the connecting-rod g is pivoted, is adjustably secured to the raceway b by means of a bolt, a, and an arm attached rigidlyto said raceway, and having a slot, b, receiving said bolt. Said slot enables the ear 15 to be secured at "arious distances from the raceway, and thus enables the initialposition of the raceway, or that which it occupies when presenting the eye of the button to the de-. scend'rng needle, to be adjusted as circumstances may require.

The space between the attached buttons on .the'work is determined by the position of the needle when it enters the work preparatory to feeding it, and the needle is capable of adjustment sons to enter the work at a greater or less, distance from the outer end of the V work-supporting arm, as described in my other application.

The adjustable connection between the raceway and the connecting-rod g enablesthe race- .tached to the raceway. The rotation-0t saidallel with the length of the arm E, but for a cated by the arrow in Fig. 3. The lever L is way to be adjusted to correspond with any adjustment of the needle-ba1a Other devices may be employed for adj usting the initial position of the raceway. For example, the connecting-rod 7 may bemade capable of being lengthened or shortened.

The needle and cast-oil bars are mounted in a horizontal movable carrier in the arm E, said carrier being moved horizontally while in the work to cause the needle to move or feed the work, as described in my pending appliment, as described in my other application,

the loop drawn through the eye of the last button being thus caused to pull said button' past the yielding spring-gate 7 and out of the raceway. \Vhile the needle is making the feed movement the raceway remains in the position to which it was last moved, and returns to its original position after the button has been completely attached, and while the needle is raised preparatory to its descent through the eye of the next button.

It will be observed that the location ofthe reservoir at the outer end of the arm E enables a much shorter and lighter raceway to be employed than heretofore, the descentof the raceway being very abrupt-in fact, almost vertical-so that the buttons move more positively downward than in a raceway having a more gentle inclination.

The described connection of the raceway to the arm E by means of the two pivots constituting a double joint enables the raceway to oscillate freely in any desired. direction.

The machine is considerably simplified and made to operate more easily than heretofore, so far as the raceway and its movements are concerned.

The button-agitator in the reservoir is composed of a hub, r, mounted on a stud, 0, and

tufts of bristles s, radiating from the hub. The agitator is oscillated by a connection with the oscillating lever J, which operates the needlebar, as described in my former patent,-said connection being composed of an arm, a, secured to the stud o of the agitator, and aconnecting-rod, 1 pivoted to the outer end of said armand to the lever J, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5.

I do not limit myself to the application of the described improvements in the button reservoir and raceway to a machine otherwise of the construction shown in my former patent, or my other application, but .reserve I the right to modify the construction and operation of the machine, or to apply the improved reservoir and raceway to other button-iastening machines on which it is capable of use whether said machines. use thread or metallic iastenings. Neither do I limit myself to the pivoting of the reservoir and raceway to a fixed support directly over the loop-forming mechanism, as the pivotal connection may be located at any other suitable point, and maybe of such nature as to permit the raceway to swing in but a single plane instead of having the compound movement described.

I claiml. In a button-fastening machine, the combination of a work-support buttonfastening mechanism, substantially as described, a fixed arm above the work-support, a button reservoir and raceway. a joint or pivotal connection between said fixed arm and the reservoir and raceway over the fastening mechanism, and mechanism, substantially as described, whereby said reservoir and raceway are oscillated, as set forth.

2. In a button-fastening machine, the combination of awork-support button-fastening mechanism, substantially as described, afixed arm above the work-support, a button reservoir and raceway connected to said arm by a doublejoint comprising two pivots at right angles to each other, the reservoir and raceway being adapted to oscillate on either or both pivots, and mechanism, substantially as described,\vliereby said reservoir and raceway are oscillated, as set forth.

3. The combination ofthe reservoir and raceway connected to a fixed support by a double joint, the jointed connecting-rod secn red to said raceway, means, substantially as described, for reciprocating said rod and thus oscillating theraceway, and the two-armed lever pivoted to a fixed support, one arm of said lever bearing against a projection on the connecting-rod, and the other on an attachment to the raceway, as set forth.

4. The reservoir and raceway composed of the body 2 and side piece, 2, formed in one piece, said side piece having a button-eyeguiding slot, 5, and the back plate, 3, and side piece, 3, formed in one piece and separated from the body 2 and side piece, 2', by a continuous slot or opening, 44, as set forth.

5. The combination of the raceway connect- .ed by a double joint to a fixed support, the

loop-forming mechanism, the work'support, the two-armed lever L, the spring 16, and the jointed connecting-rod, and means for reciprocating it, one arm of said lever bearingagainst an attachment on the rod, and the other against an attachment on the raceway, as set forth.

6. The raceway having the button head and eye guiding slots combined with the rigid or inelastic gate 7, pivoted to the raceway and provided with aspring, 8, whereby it is pressed against arigid part of the raceway and caused to stand normally across the lower end of the bntton-head-guiding slot, and with a socket, 7, formed to fit a button-head, the arrange ment being such that the heads of the buttons pass into the socket 7 and are positively held therebyin position to receive the needle, as set forth.

7. The combination of the raceway having the button head and eye guiding slots, the rigid or inelastic gate pivoted to the raceway and provided with the socket 7, and with the spring S,which normally holds the gate with its socket in position to receive-the buttonheads asthey pass down said slot, and the-adjustable screw or rigid stop y,which limits the closing movement of the gate and thereby enables the socket to receive buttons of di't 'erent sizes without interfering with the op ning movement of the gate, as set forth.

8. The raceway and reservoir composed of the separate front and back parts'combincd with the screws, whereby said parts are connected; and the bearing-screws, whereby the width of the button-guiding space between said parts may be raised, as set forth.

9. The combination of the rescrvoir and raceway mounted to oscillate as described, a connecting-rod pivotal] y secured to said raceway, mechanism whereby said rod is reciprocated and the raceway thereby oscillated, and means,

substantially as described, whereby the distance between the raceway and the end of the connecting-rod that is connected to the oper= ating mechanism of said rod may be varied, as set forthr 10. The combination of the reservoir and raceway mounted to oscillate as described,and provided with the slotted arm, the connectingrod adj nstabl y secured to said slotted arnumd means, substantially as described, for operating said connecting-rod. as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificatiomin the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 18th day of September, 1.885.

JOSEPH MATHISON.

\Vitnesses:

O. F. BROWN, H. BROWN. 

